In Downward Facing Dog, it is important to keep the shoulders externally rotated prior to coming up in the pose to avoid pinching the delicate tendons of the shoulder (attaching to Supra Spinatus muscle) with potential injury to rotator cuff.

From all Fours, rotate your shoulders externally by keeping the elbow inner crisses towards the thumbs.

Use variations to practice Shoulder Openings using blocks/belt/chair or the Dolphin

Building Core Strength and Stamina - on Saturday 20 February 2pm-5pm at
The Studio, Central Reigate

This workshop focused on building core strength to support our day-to-day activities, general fitness and yoga practice. 

We practiced a Core Yoga / Abs Yoga Sequence and followed with some Warrior and Balance postures working with partners.

Props and Variations were used so that everyone could get the most of all postures. In addition we explored the use of energy locks or Bandhas.

At the physical level, Yoga is the Union of body and mind through the breath. At the utmost spiritual level, it means Union of the self with the higher-Self when Self-realisation is achieved

The Posture work of Yoga Asanas aims at promoting physical health of the spine, toning and suppleness of the muscles, increased range of movement and suppleness of the joints.

In its basic definition, the word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit Yogum or Yuga and to Yoke is to unite, join, or union. At the simple level, it is the union of body, mind and spirit and the practices to achieve this union.  3000-5000 years old, encapsulated by the Sage Patajanli (-300BC) into a system of Yoga with 8 steps: personal and universal commandments, posture work, breathing work as the initial outer steps, leading to the inner steps: detachment, concentration, meditation and enlightment.

January New Years Resolution Workshop: Sun Salutations and Yoga Flow

The Postures that aim at the mobility of the Spine are primarily Back-Bends such as Setu Bandha (Bridge), Bhujangasana (Cobra) and Dhanurasana (Wheel) or Ustrasana (Camel).

Those should be practiced after some spine warm-up kneeling postures such as Bitilasana (Cat-Cow) or Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog). Standing postures aim to promote good skeleton-muscle alignment and increase strength and stamina in the muscles of the limbs in particular the Warrior series.